Greetings

1. Bonjorn

   Hello / Good day

   Usage

   The standard daytime greeting; fine with anyone in shops and hotels

   Grammar Note

   bon (good) + jorn (day). Not French "bonjour": the ending is -jorn

2. Mercé plan

   Thank you very much

   Usage

   A warmer thank-you; the short form is Mercé

   Grammar Note

   mercé (thanks) + plan (very). The ending is -é, not French "merci"

3. Adieussiatz

   Goodbye / Hello (polite, to one or several people)

   Usage

   A polite word for both parting and meeting; handy when leaving a shop

   Grammar Note

   The polite/plural counterpart of adieu. Unlike French "adieu" (a final farewell) it is an everyday greeting; to friends say Adieu

4. Adieu

   Hi / Bye (casual)

   Usage

   Used to friends both on meeting and on parting; to strangers use Bonjorn or Adieussiatz

   Grammar Note

   Unlike French "adieu", an everyday casual hello/goodbye. For several people or respect use Adieussiatz

5. Cossí anatz?

   How are you? (polite / plural)

   Usage

   For strangers, elders or several people; to a friend say Cossí vas?

   Grammar Note

   Literally "how do you go". anatz is the 2nd-person plural of anar, used as the polite singular (same logic as French allez-vous)

6. Bona nuèch

   Good night

   Usage

   Said at parting in the evening or before bed; fine in any register

   Grammar Note

   bona is the feminine of bon, agreeing with feminine nuèch (night); note the -èch ending

7. Parli pas francés

   I don't speak French

   Usage

   Use when someone addresses you in French; you can add Parli un pauc (I speak a little)

   Grammar Note

   1st-person present of parlar plus pas after the verb; the language name is lower-case. Composed

8. Tornarai

   I'll come back

   Usage

   Said when leaving, to show you plan to return

   Grammar Note

   Future of tornar: the infinitive plus ai; the subject is dropped

9. Ai passat una plan bona estona

   I had a really good time

   Usage

   Said as thanks after a visit or a meal

   Grammar Note

   Compound past: aver + passat. plan before an adjective means "very". Composed

10. Mercé, a lèu!

    Thanks, see you soon!

    Usage

    A thank-you and farewell on leaving a shop or a guesthouse

    Grammar Note

    a lèu is a set phrase for "see you soon" (like French à bientôt). Composed

Browse all TravelPhrases languages